Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
07:11
Assessing Early Stage Open-Angle Glaucoma in Patients by Isolated-Check Visual Evoked Potential
Published on: May 25, 2020
Case of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy with abnormal pattern visual evoked potentials
Yuzhu Chai1, Hiroko Yamazaki, Kaoru Fujinami
1Department of Ophthalmology, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)
|October 4, 2011
Summary
This study shows that electroretinography (ERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can detect early changes in acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR), a condition that can significantly improve over time.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuro-ophthalmology
- Retinal Imaging
Background:
- Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) is an idiopathic retinal disorder.
- Early diagnosis and understanding of AZOOR's natural course are crucial for patient management.
Observation:
- A 21-year-old female presented with acute photopsia and a large scotoma in her right eye.
- Initial examination revealed a relative afferent pupillary defect and enlarged blind spot, with normal visual acuity and funduscopy.
- Pattern visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were reduced, and electroretinography (ERG) showed reduced rod and cone responses.
Findings:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed irregularities in the photoreceptor inner/outer segment (IS/OS) line.
- Over time, the enlarged blind spot resolved, IS/OS line irregularities improved on OCT, and VEPs and ERGs showed significant functional recovery.
- ERG findings are vital for differentiating AZOOR from retrobulbar neuritis, especially with abnormal pattern VEPs.
Implications:
- This case highlights the dynamic nature of AZOOR, with potential for substantial visual function and structural recovery.
- Pattern VEPs, full-field ERGs, multifocal ERGs, and OCT are valuable tools for monitoring AZOOR progression and recovery.
- Understanding these findings aids in distinguishing AZOOR from other optic nerve and retinal conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
01:20Anatomy of the Eyeball
The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...